I'm certainly guilty of thinking "more is more" when it comes to pedals (and kit in general). For some reason lately, I've been fancying getting a nice basic bunch of Boss pedals. Specifically the more "vanilla" type "meat and potato" variety.
What do you guys think? I'm thinking more in terms of practicality for gigging, rather than trying to achieve specific tones.
I was thinking:
- SD1
- DS1
- Compressor
- EQ
- Blues Driver
- Phaser
- Chorus
- Turbo Distortion
I was actually about to put a request out on the classifieds, but thought I'd ask opinions here first (the above pedals are all about £25 on eBay, so long as you don't mind them being a bit battered.
Comments
I have an SD-1 and a DS-1, both are decent pedals, and pretty reliable.
I didn't like the Blues driver as much, and IMO there's better phasers and Choruses available.
The EQ (GE-7) I had was pretty useful as a boost in the loop, but didn't get used too much. I did also try it as a mid/treble booster in front of a clean amp, and got a nice Who-type tone.
Ringleader of the Cambridge cartel, pedal champ and king of the dirt boxes (down to 21)
SD1- great (though apparently bleed in bypass at some settings, depending on the one you get)
BD2- pretty good
DS1- good for certain things, a lot of people hate them though
CS3- not bad but noisy at higher settings (though that's squashier than a lot of compressors, so :-S)
too long since I've tried the others.
BF-2
BD-2
TR-2
SD-1
DS-2 (the extra mode takes it above the Ds-1 in my book. Instant 'In Utero')
EHX are another brand where you'll get a lot for your money and easily replace stuff, especially their modulation pedals. My Small Clone and Small Stone are the only pedals of their type I feel the need for.
Also, I HATE the CS-3. It felt like someone was actively trying to change the volume of my guitar to make me sound as shit as possible.
Boss stuff I liked:
TU-3
CS-3
OD-1
Blues Driver
HF-2 Hi Band flanger (tres cool, wish I still had it)
CE-2
Had an NS-2 as well and thought it was okay, seemed to do the job but then I;ve never actually been a fan of noise gates to be fair.
Had a bunch of other Boss and didn't think much of them.
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"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
The screamin blues can get a bit harsh on the treble (and also doesn't seem to like being boosted by another drive pedal), but for ~£20 these days it's hard to beat. I use it as a boost basically.
That only works if you have a buffer (or buffered pedal) to put in front, though, surely? It's entirely possible that you might want the SD1 to be first in your chain (or at least that other pedals you might put in front, like tuners, might be true bypass), and having to put another pedal or buffer there ups the price on what is a reasonably-priced, great-sounding pedal.
It's a shame. I've said it before but if they didn't have the bleed I'd probably have the Boss SD1 now. I went with the Daphon (£13! ) ) on the basis that if its buffer were no better at least I hadn't spent much. In that instance it actually did lose Boss a sale.
I haven't noticed any bleed with the Daphon's buffer but I haven't exactly done scientific tests either.
I'm trying to resist the urge to buy one despite having absolutely no need for one. It's just too good a deal!
It is a minor annoyance otherwise, I agree. That's why I stopped using mine and eventually sold it - I wanted it as a stand-alone boost pedal (or with a DS-1, but no more - and the SD-1 has to go first out of those two) and not need to have it on a board with something else in front.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
FZ2 Hyper Fuzz - so good I have 2
CE2B - great for guitar and more versatile with a mix knob
TR2
DD7
BF2
HF2
Ones i've had that I really liked:
BD2
CE2
DF2
FB2
HM2
OD3
DC3
Power Driver
ODB3 for guitar
The one I hated:
Power Stack
Same with the HM-2. Not very versatile but the sounds on Left Hand Path and Like An Everflowing Stream remain untouchable.
Yes, the Boss pedals I have all bleed a bit (SD-1, SD-2, DS-1)
If you're looking at a DS-1, try a Vox Satchurator, as it does the DS-1 sound, and a load more, and without bleed (As far as I can tell at home volumes.)
Ringleader of the Cambridge cartel, pedal champ and king of the dirt boxes (down to 21)
I love the ds-2 - use it with a strat or tele and you've got slane castle chilli peppers, which is a great, great lead tone. My favourite of all time in fact - I think he's running it into a big muff, or a muff into the ds-2, I don't think it's just the ds-2. Could be wrong! Plenty of speculation over his tone, he's a massive gear head.
I love my mates od - 3 (I think that's what it is - I made a thread on it a while back). Can push a valve amp, but also has nice od tones of it's own, apparently derived from the bd-2 circuit (another I like, but is a bit harsh - plenty of folk like keeley mod them).
Ph3 sucks balls, avoid, it sucks tone even when bypassed. And I'm normally not *that* bothered! I've used a ce-3 and really liked it, so I'm hunting for one as well as a Russian or USA muff and ds-2.
And money for the above.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein